The 1998 Lone Star 500 was the tenth round of the 1998 Indy Racing League season. The race was held on September 20, 1998 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Open-wheel veteran John Paul Jr. earned his first win since the 1983 Michigan 500 in a race determined by attrition and fuel strategy. It would be Paul's only win in his IRL career and the only win for Byrd-Cunningham Racing in the series. Rookie Robby Unser scored his first and only podium as well as led the only laps in his career.
The race saw many crashes and problems plague the usual frontrunners, including Arie Luyendyk (fuel pump), Eddie Cheever (engine malfunction), Scott Sharp (crash), Greg Ray (engine malfunction), and Tony Stewart (led 51 laps before an engine problem ended his race). By finishing 5th, points leader Kenny Bräck maintained his comfortable lead in the points standings, all but ensuring he would be the next IRL champion in the next race.
Report Key Meaning R Rookie W Past winner
Qualifying
Two laps qualifying. The worst lap from any of the drivers are unknown.
Pos No. Name Lap Best (in mph) 1 11 Billy Boat W 23.896 225.979 2 1 Tony Stewart 24.014 224.869 3 8 Scott Sharp 24.048 224.551 4 28 Mark Dismore 24.075 224.299 5 35 Jeff Ward 24.099 224.076 6 6 Davey Hamilton 24.142 223.677 7 4 Scott Goodyear 24.240 222.770 8 77 Stéphan Grégoire 24.288 222.332 9 51 Eddie Cheever 24.295 222.268 10 14 Kenny Bräck 24.304 222.186 11 43 Dave Steele R 24.319 222.049 12 97 Greg Ray 24.333 221.921 13 30 Raul Boesel 24.387 221.429 14 10 John Paul Jr. 24.394 221.366 15 16 Marco Greco 24.398 221.330 16 3 Robbie Buhl 24.451 220.850 17 52 Robby Unser R 24.454 220.823 18 23 Roberto Guerrero 24.491 220.489 19 91 Buddy Lazier 24.499 220.417 20 18 Steve Knapp R 24.669 218.898 21 12 Buzz Calkins 24.723 218.420 22 40 Jack Miller 24.821 217.558 23 99 Sam Schmidt 24.857 217.243 24 81 Brian Tyler R 24.900 216.867 25 98 Donnie Beechler R 25.040 215.655 26 19 Stan Wattles 25.387 212.707 27 15 Andy Michner R 26.119 206.746 28 5 Arie Luyendyk W 24.585 219.646Source
Changed to a backup car for the race, after repeatedly changing engines during the weekend before loaning one from Panther Racing.
Race
Pos No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Laps Led Points110 John Paul Jr.Byrd-Cunningham Racing2082:21:53.557143150252 Robby Unser RTeam Cheever208 +1.577 sec172240335 Jeff WardISM Racing208Running51635423 Roberto GuerreroCobb Racing208Running18223255 Kenny BräckA. J. Foyt Enterprises207 +1 Lap1030691 Buddy LazierHemelgarn Racing206 +2 Laps19142873 Robbie BuhlTeam Menard205 +3 Laps1626819 Stan WattlesMetro Racing Systems205 +3 Laps262496 Davey HamiltonNienhouse Motorsports202 +6 Laps6221028 Mark DismoreKelley Racing202 +6 Laps414201112 Buzz CalkinsBradley Motorsports201 +7 Laps21191240 Jack MillerSinden Racing Services201 +7 Laps22181381 Brian Tyler RTeam Pelfrey174Engine24171411 Billy Boat WA. J. Foyt Enterprises162 +46 Laps1191515 Andy Michner RRiley & Scott158Engine277151616 Marco GrecoPhoenix Racing133Contact15141730 Raul BoeselMcCormack Motorsports133Contact1330131818 Steve Knapp RPDM Racing131Contact20121998 Donnie Beechler RCahill Racing122Contact2511201 Tony StewartTeam Menard80Engine251142197 Greg RayKnapp Motorsports75Engine129224 Scott GoodyearPanther Racing71Clutch78238 Scott SharpKelley Racing67Contact3182443 Dave Steele RPanther Racing39Contact1162551 Eddie CheeverTeam Cheever30Engine952677 Stéphan GrégoireChastain Motorsports18Contact842799 Sam SchmidtLP Racing5Engine233285 Arie Luyendyk WTreadway Racing5Fuel Pump282Source
Race Statistics Lead changes: 17 among 10 drivers
Lap Leaders Laps Leader1-27 Tony Stewart28-41 Mark Dismore42 Jeff Ward43-50 Raul Boesel51 Scott Sharp52-75 Tony Stewart76-80 Jeff Ward81-87 John Paul Jr.88-109 Raul Boesel110-116 Andy Michner117-130 Buddy Lazier131-136 John Paul Jr.137-140 Roberto Guerrero141-162 Robby Unser163 John Paul Jr.164-182 Roberto Guerrero183-191 Jeff Ward192-208 John Paul Jr.
Cautions: 8 for 74 laps Laps Reason19-27Stéphane Grégoire crash40-48Dave Steele crash70-78Scott Sharp crash85-92Debris108-116Billy Boat crash134-152Greco, Boesel, Beechler and Knapp crash160-164Tow-in for Andy Michner198-202Davey Hamilton's tire blow-out
Standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings
Rank +/– Driver Points 1 Kenny Bräck 312 2 Davey Hamilton 281 3 Tony Stewart 271 4 Scott Sharp 254 5 1 Jeff Ward 243
Note: Only the top five positions are included for the standings.
References